Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsubust’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Dopetsubust’, characterized by its mounding to hanging plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; large light purple and red purple bi-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia X hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DOPETSUBUST’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia X hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Dopetsubust’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Rheinberg, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to create new mounding and early-flowering Petunia plants with numerous large attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2013 in Rheinberg, Germany of a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT12-001046-006, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia X hybrida identified as code number TT10-007649-005, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany in May, 2017.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Rheinberg, Germany since June, 2017 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Dopetsubust’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Dopetsubust’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Mounding to hanging plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Large light purple and red purple bi-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the female parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the female parent selection         have light pink and dark pink bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more vigorous than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia have larger flowers than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and the male parent selection         differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection         have white and dark purple bi-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of Petunia sensu Wijsman ‘Dancasbipas’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,386. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancasbipas’ differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are broader than plants of         ‘Dancasbipas’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Dancasbipas’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Dancasbipas’ differ in flower         color as plants of ‘Dancasbipas’ have white and lighter red         purple bi-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Dopetsubust’ grown in a container.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 22-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Rheinberg, Germany and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day and night temperatures averaged 18° C. and light levels averaged 4,500 lux. Plants were 13 weeks old when the photograph and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal. Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia X hybrida ‘Dopetsubust’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X             hybrida identified as code number TT12-001046-006, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Petunia X             hybrida identified as code number TT10-007649-005, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About five days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About seven days at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to 155B in color,             actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Mounding to hanging plant habit;             freely branching habit with about ten primary lateral             branches each with about four to five secondary branches             developing after pinching; moderately vigorous growth habit;             moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 19             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 22             cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 77 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 69 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Strength.—Moderately strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright to outwardly spreading.         -   Texture and luster.—Pubescent; semi-glossy.         -   Color, developing.—Close to 149B; at the internodes, close             to 144C.         -   Color, fully developed.—Close to 144A; at the internodes,             close to 144C. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Before flowering, alternate; after flowering,             opposite; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Spatulate.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent;             leathery; semi-glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137D.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 137C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137C; venation,             close to 137C. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 146B; venation, close to 138B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 3.8 mm. Diameter: About 2 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong; firm. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, upper             surface: Close to 145A. Color, lower surface: Close to 145C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and flowering habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from leaf axils; freely flowering habit with usually             about 350 flowers developing per plant during the flowering             season; flowers face upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously during             the spring and summer in Germany; early flowering habit,             plants typically beginning flowering about nine weeks after             planting.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about two to three             days on the plant; flowers persistent.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.7 cm. Diameter: About 4.2 mm.             Shape: Ovoid. Texture and luster: Rippled, glabrous;             semi-glossy. Color: Close to 139D and 72A.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.6 cm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 2.9 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flower tube length.—About 2.5 cm.         -   Flower tube diameter.—About 2.2 mm.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal lobe length (from             throat): About 2.2 cm. Petal lobe width: About 2.9 cm. Petal             shape: Roughly spatulate. Petal apex: Obtuse. Petal margin:             Entire; slightly undulate. Petal texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Rippled, glabrous; semi-glossy. Throat             texture and luster: Rippled, glabrous; matte. Tube texture             and luster: Rippled, pubescent; matte. Color: Petal lobe,             when opening, upper surface: Alternating stripes of close to             64D and 71A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower surface:             Alternating stripes of close to 145C and 80A. Petal lobe,             fully opened, upper surface: Alternating stripes of close to             75B and 72A; venation, close to 59A; colors do not fade with             development. Petal lobe, fully opened, lower surface:             Alternating stripes of close to 78D and 78B; venation, close             to 59A; colors do not fade with development. Flower throat:             Close to 60C; venation, close to 79C. Flower tube: Close to             2C; venation, close to 79A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: Five sepals fused at the base forming a             star-shaped calyx. Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter: About             3.8 mm. Sepal length: About 1.6 cm. Sepal width: About             2.7 mm. Sepal shape: Oblong. Sepal apex: Rounded. Sepal             margin: Entire. Sepal texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; semi-glossy. Color, when             opening, upper surface: Close to 137C. Color, when opening,             lower surface: Close to 138A. Color, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 137C. Color, fully opened, lower surface:             Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Smooth,             glabrous; semi-glossy. Color: Close to 143B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Filament length: About 2.2 cm. Filament color: Close to             145D. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape: Ovate. Anther             color: Close to 90B. Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color:             Close to 94B. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 2.1 cm. Style length: About 2 cm. Style color:             Close to 83A and 145B. Stigma diameter: About 1.2 mm. Stigma             shape: Rounded. Stigma color: Close to 144A. Ovary color:             Close to 143C. Fruits: Quantity produced per plant: About             200 during the flowering season. Length: About 5 mm.             Diameter: About 5 mm. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color:             Close to 161C. Seeds: Quantity per flower: About 80. Length:             About 0.2 mm. Diameter: About 0.2 mm. Texture: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: Close to 200A. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain, temperatures     ranging from about 3° C. to about 28° C. and to be suitable for USDA     Hardiness Zone 11. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants to date. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Dopetsubust’ as illustrated and described. 